Berri Criticizes Non-Implementation of Constitution in Cabinet Mechanism

Speaker Nabih Berri criticized certain parties for claiming that they back the implementation of the Constitution on the cabinet mechanism yet they don't act accordingly.

“Why does this stance does not match with the facts on the ground?” Berri wondered in remarks published in As Safir daily on Friday.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has suspended cabinet sessions over the failure of the ministers to agree on changing the current mechanism.

Reports had said that Salam showed more leniency and was willing to call for a session next week.

But in remarks to his visitors, Berri ruled out a session because the PM is abroad on a private visit.

In line with the constitution, the cabinet began exercising the president’s prerogatives after the parliament failed to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman, whose term ended in May last year.

The ministers agreed that all decisions should win a unanimous backing. But such a process hindered the government's work over the veto right that certain cabinet members began to exercise.

The speaker discussed the issue in a lengthy telephone conversation with al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora on Thursday.

Berri also briefed his visitors on the results of talks that he is sponsoring between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement.

The representatives of the two parties held their sixth round of talks on Wednesday and agreed to come up with a national strategy to combat terrorism.

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